What to eat for acute gastritis

Written by Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 18, 2024
00:00
00:00

Acute gastritis refers to the acute onset of gastric mucosa damage or erosion, commonly caused by drugs or stress-induced injuries, including those caused by alcohol. For treatment, proton pump inhibitors that suppress stomach acid can be used. Aside from proton pump inhibitors, H2 receptor antagonists can also be chosen, but the therapeutic effect of H2 receptor antagonists is not as good as proton pump inhibitors. Treatment should also include gastric mucosal protectants and drugs that promote mucosal repair. Additionally, if gastrointestinal motility is poor, prokinetic agents may be added to the treatment. Moreover, during the acute phase, it is best to consume liquid foods and drink porridge.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
44sec home-news-image

Causes of acute gastritis

There are mainly three causes for the onset of acute gastritis: First, excessive fatigue, due to lack of rest and physical overexertion, can lead to a decline in immune function and the protective function of the gastric mucosal barrier, resulting in the occurrence of gastritis. Second is irregular eating habits, such as frequent binge eating, consuming spicy foods, and a preference for alcohol, strong tea, or coffee, all of which can significantly irritate and damage the gastric mucosa. Third is emotional fluctuations, such as being irritable, depressed, or anxious, which can directly affect the gastrointestinal tract through neurohumoral regulation and cause acute gastritis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
50sec home-news-image

Is acute gastritis serious?

Acute gastritis is a relatively common disease, and if not treated actively, the symptoms can be quite severe. This is because acute gastritis can lead to damage to the gastric mucosa, causing erosion of the mucosa, or symptoms such as bleeding and perforation of the gastric mucosa, leading to severe symptoms. For acute gastritis, active treatment is necessary, primarily involving the use of medications to protect the gastric mucosa and inhibit gastric acid secretion, as well as appropriately selecting antibiotics. If there is an associated Helicobacter pylori infection, it is necessary to completely eradicate the Helicobacter pylori. Additionally, dietary adjustments should be made, such as eating more vegetables and fruits and avoiding spicy foods.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
45sec home-news-image

Does acute gastritis require hospitalization?

Acute gastritis often presents with symptoms such as acute abdominal pain, bloating, acid reflux, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. The symptoms are typically more severe than those of chronic gastritis. Whether hospitalization is necessary depends on the specific symptoms. If the symptoms are not severe and the patient can eat, treatment can be achieved through oral medication. If there is severe vomiting or inability to eat, hospitalization for intravenous therapy may be needed. Additionally, acute gastric mucosal lesions caused by certain medications may lead to bleeding, which also requires hospital observation to prevent worsening of the condition. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
49sec home-news-image

Causes of acute gastritis

The causes of acute gastritis are varied, primarily involving external factors, internal factors, and psychological factors. For example, irregular eating habits, consuming foods that are too cold or too hot, and overly coarse foods can all irritate and damage the gastric mucosal barrier. Additionally, some medications can directly cause congestion of the gastric mucosa, and acute gastritis can be directly caused by bacterial or viral infections. The gastrointestinal tract is regulated by various hormones, and if one is overly tense, agitated, or exhibiting symptoms of neurosis, this can affect the normal levels of the mucosa through hormonal regulation, leading to mucosal damage and triggering inflammation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
52sec home-news-image

Where to massage for acute gastritis?

For some cases of acute gastritis, where the pain can be quite severe, our best method is to massage our Neiguan point to alleviate clinical symptoms. The Neiguan point is located on the inner side of our upper limbs and is convenient to massage. In addition to using bare hands, we can also place a slice of ginger and massage through the ginger. Besides massaging the Neiguan point, if it's self-massage, we can also massage our Zhongwan point. The Zhongwan point is located on our abdomen, halfway between the xiphoid process and the navel, a spot that is easy to locate. We can also massage some other points like Tianshu, Zusanli, and Gongsun. After the massage, we can relieve some clinical symptoms of acute gastritis such as abdominal distension and pain.